PITTSBURGH JAZZ

From Blakey to Brown, Como to Costa, Eckstine to Eldridge, Galbraith to Garner, Harris to Hines, Horne to Hyman, Jamal to Jefferson, Kelly to Klook; Mancini to Marmarosa, May to Mitchell, Negri to Nestico, Parlanto Ponder, Reed to Ruther, Strayhorn to Sullivan, Turk to Turrentine, Wade to Williams… the forthcoming publication Treasury of Pittsburgh Jazz Connections by Dr. Nelson Harrison and Dr. Ralph Proctor, Jr. will document the legacy of one of the world’s greatest jazz capitals.

Do you want to know who Dizzy Gillespie idolized? Did you ever wonder who inspired Kenny Clarke and Art Blakey? Who was the pianist that mentored Monk, Bud Powell, Tad Dameron, Elmo Hope, Sarah Vaughan and Mel Torme? Who was Art Tatum’s idol and Nat Cole’s mentor? What musical quartet pioneered the concept adopted later by the Modern Jazz Quartet? Were you ever curious to know who taught saxophone to Stanley Turrentine or who taught piano to Ahmad Jamal? What community music school trained Robert McFerrin, Sr. for his history-making debut with the Metropolitan Opera? What virtually unknown pianist was a significant influence on young John Coltrane, Shirley Scott, McCoy Tyner, Bobby Timmons and Ray Bryant when he moved to Philadelphia from Pittsburgh in the 1940s? Would you be surprised to know that Erroll Garner attended classes at the Julliard School of Music in New York and was at the top of his class in writing and arranging proficiency?

Some answers can be gleaned from the postings on the Pittsburgh Jazz Network.

For almost 100 years the Pittsburgh region has been a metacenter of jazz originality that is second to no other in the history of jazz. One of the best kept secrets in jazz folklore, the Pittsburgh Jazz Legacy has heretofore remained mythical. We have dubbed it “the greatest story never told” since it has not been represented in writing before now in such a way as to be accessible to anyone seeking to know more about it. When it was happening, little did we know how priceless the memories would become when the times were gone.

Today jazz is still king in Pittsburgh, with events, performances and activities happening all the time. The Pittsburgh Jazz Network is dedicated to celebrating and showcasing the places, artists and fans that carry on the legacy of Pittsburgh's jazz heritage.

Bzo *LuvBug* Cavaness's Page

Profile Information

I was born in "Newark NJ {Brick City}" & raised in "East Orange NJ".
Many moons ago I decided to uproot myself from e'vrything I knew & come
to "Cali" to pursue my dream of becoming a successful..."Producer & Songwriter"...
so far so good! Having personally & closely worked with:{Leon F.Sylvers,lll.,
Norman Whitfield & The Great Stevie Wonder...Howie Rice & Norman Conners}.

As a musician & background vocalist I performed on approx: 31 Gold & Platinum
records that Leon Sylvers Produced including Artists: {The Whispers, Shalamar, Dynasty, Klymaxx, Carrie Lucas,The Sylvers,Gladys Knight & The Pips, Krystol,
Wet Betty, Edmund Sylvers,Joyce Kennedy,Glenn Jones,Evelyn"Champagne"King}.
Moving on...I did a brief stint at Motown's Hitsville{Their Recording Facility}.
Norman Whitfield was my Mentor then...& with him I put in madd work with the late
great..."SHERRICK", "DeBARGE", the soundtrack for Motown's movie "The Last Dragon" {Starring "Taimak & Vanity} & helped develop cataloged songs for their staff writers. After my brief stint @ "Hitsville"...I then went on to work with..."Stevie Wonder".
Stevie soon opened & launched a Producer/Writer's facility called: "Writer's Quarter's West". And soon after it's launching, I was appointed "Creative Director" by Stevie. I did that for three years. Then the real work began...it was time for me to set sail..take flight if U will. I hooked up with powerhouse Producer/Writer "Howie Rice"-{Pointer Sisters,Patti
LaBelle, Barry Manilow, Kiss, Menudo} & the explosive Vocalist & Songwriter..."Ronee Martin"& we wrote a smash hit record for "Gladys Knight" intitled: "THIS IS LOVE"-{Which is loaded in my player here}. Since then, I've worked with like a who's who in this industry. Some of my clients have been & still are..."Gladys, Regina Belle, Mikki Howard, the late Phyllis Hyman, Thelma Houston, Immature/Imx,Ex-Girlfriend,Jon B.,HAMI,10dB,Brown Eyed Soul,CeCe Peniston,KellyMint,Le'Kru,Debalah Morgan,Tanya Railback,Chaka Khan,The Sylvers,D'LaVance,Jessica B.,Keplyn,Karen Briggs,Chauncey Hines,Valerie Davis,Mirinus,Amanda Dumas,Digital Soul Sonic,Gemi Taylor,George Howard-{R.I.P.}
Norman Conners,Legacy,Boss Skank,Michelle Burks,Billy Porter,Damien Dame-(R.I.P.) Babyface * L.A. Reid, Jam & Lewis,Denzil Foster & Thomas McElroy, Gerald McCauley,Randy{American Idol Judge}JacksonMarva King, George Duke
Kenny Lattimore,Chante' Moore, Carol DuBoc,EnVogue, & Diana Lynn,Diane Warren,Me'shell N'degeocello,Marva King,Mood Swing,Johnny "Guitar" Watson-(R.I.P.),
Eric Benet,Dre'Allen,

I am a Grammy nominated Producer-{I lost out to Raphael Saadiq...not too shabby..huh?} I just wrapped a Music Film score that will be my first full feature-{Scheduled for national release sometime next winter-2010}.
Currently, I'm in the studio with vocal group- CHRONICLES,THA' NU KLICK!, Trumpeter:TY G. Rising Pop/R&B vocalist: "ANGEL", T-BOB, & The "Off Balance Ent." family!"

And although I have worked with alot of peeps, I am always looking for the "NEXT" nu thing. So if U got something that U think that I might be interested in getting into...let a Brutha' know...get @ me right here on the "Pittsburgh Jazz Network".

You need to be a member of Pittsburgh Jazz Network to add comments!

Really dig your music and compositions. Thank you for adding your sounds into the network mix. I'm sue many will get the message. you can add videos very easily to your page as well. you have a great voice. Please add me as a friend.

Bobby...I wish to welcome you here at the Pittsburgh Jazz Network. Pittsburgh is a city with a very deep jazz heritage and Dr. Nelson Harrison is an excellent moderator and writer. Also, it is great that the members here will have the opportunity to network with you and experience your music and spirit!

It gives me such pleasure to influence you however I am able in our friendship. And yet, it is simply returning the favor because you continue to touch me and reach me very, very deeply.